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Police still searching for B&E, armed robbery suspects

Authorities are searching for multiple suspects that broke into the same house that was targeted in a breaking and entering incident May.

Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid was the first responder to a breaking and entering call on Lee Cline Road in Conover on Thursday, where multiple suspects kicked in the door to a home that was previously broken into May 17.

Reid said it did not appear the suspects took anything and fled the scene in a gold SUV.

“We know at least one was driving and know that another one exited the house and jumped into the passenger side of the vehicle,” Reid said.

Three suspects broke into the same home on Lee Cline in May, including Chad Michael Timothy Robinson, 19, of Hickory, who led authorities on an hour-long manhunt after he and two others stole electronics from the home.

There have been multiple other breaking and entering calls in the Lee Cline Road area recently, but Reid said he is not sure why this one house continues to be targeted.

“I don’t know why they picked it,” Reid said, adding that it is a “possibility” that Robinson and the two other suspects could be involved in Thursday's incident.

Reid urged area citizens to be aware of their surroundings.

“If they see anyone strange in the area, call the sheriff’s office,” Reid said. “We would rather come out, check it and nothing be called than to be called and work a break-in.”

Store owner gets robbed, fights back

Catawba County deputies are also searching for a gunman that robbed the Lake Lookout Market in Claremont on Tuesday night.

Reid said the armed robbery suspect entered the Lake Lookout Market on Tuesday and held store owner Gor Atulkumar Chimanlal at gunpoint.

Chimanlal first tried to grab the gun before eventually giving the money to the suspect.

Reid said his office has been using a surveillance video from the scene to assist their investigation, but said they have yet to identify the suspect.

Anyone with information about either incidents can contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 465-8330.